HEARTS CAN CHANGE: CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
Monday, November 19, 2018
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." (Lamentations 3:21-23 NLT)
Thoughts for Today
Has your life been affected in some way by abortion? This week we will be looking once again at the help author Kim Ketola offers in her book, Cradle My Heart, for anyone touched by abortion.
After abortion, part of you is gone and you are not the same. You know something has been lost. You may feel like less of a person, but you don't want others to know. An unnamed shame takes over. You want to withdraw, either to nurse the hurt to your wounded dignity or to avoid detection by those whose dignity appears intact.
Kim says, "Like me, as a young woman you may have followed the feminist crowd, believing abortion would add to your value in the workplace as a woman unhindered by the responsibility of raising a child. Or you may have been stripped of your ability to protect your growing child if you were coerced into abortion as so many women are. Your partner or parents may have threatened to abandon you or expose you to public shame."
Abortion strips us of the dignity of our unique role in producing human life, and when dignity leaves, shame moves in.
Consider this …
What would you give if all the shame and worthlessness you have felt since having an abortion could be relieved with just a touch. They can . . . if you reach out to Jesus. The Bible tells us Jesus is the healer who demonstrates his love for us as a loving father cares for his own child. We have only to reach out to receive that gift. And "his mercies begin afresh each morning."
Change is possible, but withdrawing is not the answer. It is vital to reach out. However, we often look for healing in places that cannot fulfill our need. This week we'll have a closer look at how change is possible.
Prayer
Father, I need your help. Show me how to feel whole again. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …Cradle My Heart: Finding God's LOVE After Abortion by Kim Ketola. In this book, Kim seeks to help those hurt by abortion to grieve with hope. Sharing her story and the stories of ten other women, she reveals that God's love is not a casualty of the abortive process. With an appendix of helpful resources and a study and discussion guide included, Cradle My Heart is a timely and important resource for the hurting woman, the counselor, and the church.
With an understanding and empathetic voice, Kim Ketola exposes the hurt in your heart, reveals the healing in God's heart, and brings the two together to create a whole heart where restoration and celebration are possible.
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©Living Free 2018. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to info@LivingFree.org